Frequently Asked Questions FAQ at Gentle Family Dentistry in New Berlin WI Wisconsin

FAQ

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Will this hurt? How much will this cost? Does my insurance cover this? How much time will this take? How often do I have to come back? Why do I have to have x-rays? Do I have to have an exam? Can't you just clean my teeth? What are dental lasers and are all lasers the same? How many lasers do we have at Gentle Family Dentistry? How do lasers make treatment different?
1. Will this hurt? At Gentle Family Dentistry we truly do put the gentle in dentistry. Our doctors are compassionate to their patient's needs and desires. We use the latest technological advances in anesthetic administration as well as topical anesthetics to make the "numbing" process as comfortable as possible. For those patients who request it, we provide the extra relaxation of nitrous oxide.	Return to Top
2. How much will this cost? Gentle Family Dentistry's fees fit well within most insurance company's usual and customary fee schedule. Before any major procedure is started we will explain what the cost will be and, if insurance is a factor, the approximate insurance payment. For major cases, our management staff will meet with the patient to discuss fees and set up payment arrangements. For those patients without dental insurance we off a 5% discount on all services paid for at the time of treatment with either cash or check.	Return to Top
3. Does my insurance cover this? A phone call is made to every patient's insurance company to get a specific listing of their policy's benefits and this information is entered into our computer. We are then able to estimate the approximate amount the insurance company will pay for the services the patient receives. For large cases we will send a pre-treatment estimate to the insurance company for approval and payment information. We ask that all deductibles and co-pays be paid at the time of service.	Return to Top
4. How much time will this take? Because each procedure and patient are different it's hard to estimate how long an appointment will take. When scheduling a new patient exam and cleaning, however, it is best to allow yourself at least 90 minutes. At this initial appointment a new patient will receive a complete visual exam with an oral cancer screening by the doctor, a full mouth series of x-rays and a thorough cleaning which will include a periodontal evaluation.	Return to Top
5. How often do I have to come back? Once all restorative work is completed we recommend that patients return to our office every 6 months for a cleaning and exam. From time to time some patients require their visits to be every 3 months in order to stay on top of problem areas. Your hygienist will discuss with you the recall interval that will best suit your needs.	Return to Top
6. Why do I have to have x-rays? There are many things that can not be seen with a visual exam only. With the use of x-rays our doctors are able to detect decay between the teeth, deep pockets that may be forming around teeth in addition to wisdom tooth positioning, possible abscessing and the extent of subgingival deposits. We recommend that a full mouth series of x-rays be taken once every 3 to 5 years. Between that time bitewing x-rays ( 2 to 4 films ) are taken yearly to check for between teeth decay.	Return to Top
7. Do I have to have an exam? Can't you just clean my teeth? Providing our patients with the best possible care is a priority at Gentle Family Dentistry. We would not be providing this care if we did not do a thorough exam on every patient. Having your teeth cleaned will definitely help in maintaining good oral health but an exam is an invaluable tool to assure that your teeth stay with you for a lifetime.	Return to Top
Laser Technology 8. What are dental lasers and are all lasers the same? Lasers are phased amplified light that is synchronized to create a wave of energy and depending on type of light wave, it is either reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through the material being worked on. Therefore, lasers are not the same and must have the correct wavelength of light to do the work required.	Return to Top
9. How many lasers do we have at Gentle Family Dentistry? At Gentle Family Dentistry we have a compliment of four lasers. The Kavo Diagnodent is a laser cavity detector. We also have 3 Opus Dent lasers. One works on hard surfaces of the tooth to eliminate cavities or trim bone, and the other two work on soft tissues of the mouth to kill bacteria, heal sores and lesions, and to do surgical work on gum tissue and surrounding areas to correct deformities in the mouth and improve appearance.	Return to Top
10. How do lasers make treatment different? Laser technology is less invasive, provides a natural numbing effect, sterilizes the treatment area and can cauterize blood vessels minimizing bleeding. In many cases it eliminates the need for an anesthetic shot. There is little post-operative discomfort when using the laser and often fewer appointments are needed to complete the work.	Return to Top